Apparatus for adhesively uniting sheet materials



N. E. WEEKS Nov. 22, 1949 APPARATUS FOR ADHESIVELY UNITING SHEETMATERIALS 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec. '7, 1946 FIG. I.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N. E. WEEKS APPARATUS FOR ADHESIVELY UNITING SHEETMATERIALS Filed Dec. '7, 1946 Nov. 22, 1949 mm u r o 1: W O. Q Q RE, WW.t. V E u lw a I I w w n H @m F Hm mm Q Q 0 3 ME fl Q \Q Q n I 1.H. HIP lm N H Q 6 ti Q Lx kw Nov. 22, 1949 N E. WEEKS 2,489,210

APPARATUS FOR ADHESIVELY UNITING SHEET MATERIALS Filed Dec. 7, 1946 4Sheets-Sheet 5 III N. E. WEEKS APPARATUS FOR ADHESIVELY UNITING SHEETMATERIALS Filed Dec. 7, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm m: i llmwllll. 13?! MyQ WW d Q mm a z 3 a T I l I b I i IIII 1 1 E W i|1l I 2| Q 1 1 mm. m3 muum Q l ma 7 m k R .8 I ia Q 3 z :Q l I I Q s E .3 w 5 w Q 5 m8 m E E \wE Q Patented Nov. 22,1949

APPARATUS FOR ADHESIVELY UNITING SHEET MATERIALS Norman E. Weeks,Indianapolis, Ind., asslgnor to Bemls Bro. Bag caigpany, St. Louis, Mo.,a corporation of Misso Application December 7, 1946, Serial No. 714,756

Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for adhesively uniting sheetmaterials, and more partic- -ularly to apparatus for adhesively securingvalve sleeves to bag valves.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofan improved apparatus for adhesively uniting sheet materials.particularly valve sleeves in bag valves, by means of thermoplasticadhesive; the provision of apparatus of this classadapted to accomplishaccurate and effective securement of valve sleeves to bags in minimumtime so as to achieve a high production rate of valved bags peroperator; and the provision of apparatus for this purpose which requiresno special skill on the part of the operator and which may be reliablyand safely employed. Other objects will be in part apparent and in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combination ofelements, features of construction and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structures hereinafter Fig. 3 is asemi-diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus of this invention alsoillustrating the 'step of uniting the sleeve and bag; 1 Fig. 4 is a viewof a completed v-alve bag;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail'plan view of the apparatus, certain partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5; and,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation as viewed from the right of Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1-3, Fig. 1 illustrates a textilefabric bag I and a valve sleeve 3 which are to be adhesively joined withthe apparatus of this invention to form a valve bag. At this stage ofthe process in the manufacture of the valve bag, the mouth 5 of the bagis open. The sleeve 3 comprises a rectangular paper sheet, the shortsides of which are caused to extend longitudinally with respect to the hThe sleeve. is creased on its longitudinal center line I and has a slit9 extending inward from its outer edge upon the center line. The sleeveis also prepared with a transverse stripe of thermoplastic adhesive IIby means of which it is to be adhesively secured to the bag.

To form a valve bag, the sleeve 3 is folded upon the crease withadhesive l I on the outside of the folded sleeve. It is then insertedinto the mouth of the bag, being fitted in a corner thereof asillustrated in Fig. 2, with the stripe of adhesive engaging the insidewall of the bag adjacent its mouth and with the slitted. portion of thesleeve extending outward. This bag and sleeve assembly, hereinafterreferred to'as the work, is then fed through a heated presser unit I3(Fig. 3) in a direction parallel to the edge of the bag mouth at such arelatively low rate of speed as to permit the adhesive to soften andsecure the sleeve to the bag under pressure. It will be noted from Fig.3 that the aforesaid corner of the bag is introduced first into thepresser unit. It will also be noted that once this corner of the bag hasbeen fed through the presser unit there remains a substantial portion ofthe work,

designated X in Figs. 2 and 3, in which there is no adhesive to be actedupon. Consequently, there is no necessity for feeding this portion ofthe work through the presser unit at the same relatively low rate ofspeed as said corner. In order to clear the bag rapidly from the presserunit once its corner issues therefrom, so that the operator may soonfeed another bag and sleeve assembly thereto, the apparatus of thisinvention further includes means for pulling the bag through the unit atconsiderably higher speed than the aforesaid rate so as quickly to ejectthe completed product. Thus, that limited portion of the bag and sleeveassembly wherein adhesive is to be softened is fed through the presserunit slowly enough to permit the adhesive to soften, and the remainderof the bag is pulled rapidly out of the presser unit.

The resultant product, which corresponds to Fig. 2 except that thesleeve 3 is now aiiixed in the corner of the bag at its mouth, issubseouently formed into a valve bag illustrated in Fig. 4 by tucking inthe sleeve-lined corner to form a sleeve-lined valve flap. A seam i5 isfinally stitched across the mouthof the bag to close it. This forms avalved bag having a valve inlet ll, of which the sleeve liner forms aninward extension, the bag being adapted to be filled with comminuted orpulverulent material by inserting a filling spout through the valveinlet. When the bag is filled, the pressure of the filling I s 3"closesthevalveand oftheflllingi'romthebag,aswillbereadily understoodfrom the art. Generally, as stated. the apparatus of thisinventionembodies means for feeding the work' through the presser unit I3 at therate of speed such as to permit the adhesive to soften. This meanscomprises two sets I 3 and II of continuously driven draw rolls whichare driven at such a speed as to advance the work at the aforesaidheated presser head 25 and an upper heated presser head 25 which isspring-biased into engagement with the lower head. The lower head isfixed upon the end of a supporting arm 21 which extends outward andupward from the base plate 29 of the apparatus. It comprises a chan nelbar 3| which is secured by screws 33 to the end of arm 21 with thechannel opening upward. Disposed within the channel is an electricalresistance strip heating element 35. A layer 31 of suitable heatinsulating material, such as asbestos, is disposed between the heatingelement and the channel. A steel plate 39 is secured by screws 4I (Fig.6) to the channel over the heating element. This plate has a smoothupper surface which forms the lower pressurereceiving surface of-thepresser unit I3. Current is supplied to the heating element 35 byconductors 43.

The upper presser head 25 is similar to the lower head and comprises achannel bar 45 fixed upon the lower end of rods 41 with the channelopening downward. Disposed within the channel is an electricalresistance strip heating element 49, a layer i of heat insulatingmaterial being disposed between the heating element and the channel. Asteel plate 53 is secured by screws 55 to the channel over heatingelement 49. This plate has a smooth lower surface which forms thepressure-applying surface of the presser unit I3.

Current is supplied to heating element 49 by flex ible conductors 51.

The upper ends of rods 41 are slidable in apertures in a plate 59carried by a supporting arm 5| extending outward from a pedestal 63 onbase plate 29. The rods are biased downward by compression springs 95reacting between the under surface of the plate 59 and nuts 61 threadedon the rods to bias the upper presser head into engagement with thelower presser head. The bias is adjustable by means of nuts 99 threadedonthe ends of rods 41 extending through plate 59.

From the above it will be clear that work may be fed between the heatedpressure plates 39 and 53, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to soften thethermoplastic adhesive stripe II on the valve sleeve and to press thebag and valve sleeve firmly together to effect adhesive affixingthereof. The upper plate 53 rises againstthe bias of springs 55 inaccordance with the thickness of the work. The work is fed through thepresser unit from right to left as viewed in Fig. 6,.it will be notedthat plates 39 and 53 diverge at their right handends to form an inletthroat II.

The work is fed between the presser heads by auaaio thereby preventsleakage draw roll shafts I1 and 19, respectively. The upper shaft. I1 isJournalled in vertically sliding bearings 9| in the aforesaid pedestal93 and in another pedestal 33- mounted on base plate 29 suitableguideways in the pedestals and arebiased downward by compression springs85. Lower shaft 19 is jdurnalled in fixed bearings 91 in the pedestal.The arrangement is such that the axially spaced knurled flange portions99 of the upper draw roll I3 are biased into engagement with the axiallyspaced knurled flange portions 9| of the lower. draw roll I5, and theupper draw roll may rise as work is fed through the apparatus inaccordance with thethickness of the work. The nip of draw rolls I3 andI5 is adjacent the forward end of inlet throat II of the presser unitand the pass plane of these rolls is substantially coincidental with themating plane of the pressure surfaces of plates 39 and 53 (Fig 6).

The set 2| of draw rolls is similar to set I9, comprising upper andlower spool-shaped rolls 93 and mounted upon upper and lower draw rollshafts 91 and 99, respectively. Upper shaft 91 is journalled invertically sliding bearings IIII, corresponding to bearings 9|, inpedestals 63 and 83. These bearings are biased downward by springs I93corresponding to the springs 85. Lower shaft 99 is journalled in fixedbearings I95 in the pedestals; Thus, the knurled flange portions IIll ofthe upper draw roll 93 are biased downward into engagement with theknurled flange portions I09 of the lower draw roll 95, and the upperdraw roll may rise as work is fed through the apparatus in accordancewith the thickness of the work. The nip of draw rolls 93 and 95 is somedistance rearward of the exit end of the presser unit and the pass planethereof is substantially coincidental with the plane of the pressuresurfaces of plates 39 and 53. It will be noted that the presser unit isdisposed within the recesses of the draw rolls between their flangeportions.

Each of the aforesaid draw rolls I3, 15, 93 and 95 is adapted to bedriven by its respective shaft through an overrunning clutch in order topermit each draw roll to be rotated faster than its shaft when required.As illustrated particularly in Fig. 6, each of thedraw rolls isrotatably mounted upon the end of its shaft. A ratchet I I I is fixedupon each draw roll shaft adjacent the draw roll thereon. Pivotallymounted upon the inside flange portion of each draw roll is a pawl II3biased into engagement with the respective ratchet by a spring I I5carried by said flange portion. The arrangement of the ratchet and pawlmechanism is such that when the draw rolls are rotated in the forwarddirection at a speed faster than the speed of their respective shafts,the draw rolls may overrun their shafts, the pawls ratcheting over theratchet teeth during such overrunning action.

The set of pulling rolls comprises an upper knurled roll II! and a lowerknurled roll II9. Upper roll I I1 is fixed upon the end of a shaft I2Ijournalled for rotation in vertically slidable bearings I23 in pedestals63 and 93. These bearings are guided for vertical sliding movement insuitable guideways in the pedestals and are biased downward bycompression springs I25. The lower pulling roll H9 is fixed on the endof a shaft I21 which is joumalled in fixed bearings I29 in the theaforesaid sets ll-wand II of draw rolls. The set I9 comprises upper andlower spool-shaped rolls 'l3and 15 mounted upon upper and lower 5.pedestals. The arrangement is such that the upper pulling roll II! isbiased into engagement with the lower pulling roll III. It will be notedthat the upper pulling roll may rise as work is fed through theapparatus in accordance with the thickness of the work. The pullingrolls Ill and H9 are located in such position that the work issuing frombetween the pressure plates 39 and 53 of the presser unit is picked upin the nip of these rolls and fed outward (to the left as viewed in Fig.6). Pulling rolls Ill and H9 are of greater diameter than the draw rollsI3, I5, 93 and 95 and their peripheral speed is greater than that of thedraw rolls to pull the work through the apparatus at a higher rate ofspeed than the rate at which the work is fed forward by the draw rolls.

Suitable driving means is provided for driving the draw roll and thepulling roll shafts. As illustrated in Fig. 3, a motor I3I is coupledthrough a speed reducer I33 and a belt drive I35 to drive the upperpulling roll shaft Hi. The upper pulling roll shaft is coupled to drivethe lower pulling roll shaft I21 at the same speed by means ofintermeshing gears I31 and I39 fixed on the upper and lower shafts HIand I21, respectively. The upper pulling roll shaft I2I is coupled todrive the upper draw roll shaft 11 by a speed-reducing chain andsprocket drive I. The upper draw roll shaft 11 is coupled to drive theupper draw roll shaft 91 at the same speed by means of a chain andsprocket drive I43. The upper draw roll shaft 11 is coupled to drive thelower draw roll shaft 19 at the same speed by means of gears I41 andI59, and the upper draw roll shaft 91 is coupled to drive the lower drawroll shaft 99 at the same speed by gears I5I and I53.

The apparatus also includes means for guiding the work into the presserunit and into the nip of the set I9 of drawing rolls. This meanscomprises a table I55 supported upon the base plate 29 of the apparatuswith its upper surface substantially coplanar with the mating plane ofthe pressure plates 39 and 53 and the pass plane of the draw and pullingrolls. A guide bar I5I is transversely adjustably mounted upon thetable. Screws I59 extend upward. from the table through slots in slottedfingers I 5| on the bar, and the bar is clamped in adjusted position bywing nuts I63 threaded on the screws.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The guide bar 151 is initially adjusted relative to the longitudinalcenter line of the presser unit I3 so that the distance from the face ofthe bar I to this center line is equal to the distance Y from the outeredge of the valve sleeve 3 to the center line of the stripe II ofadhesive thereon. Current is supplied to heaters 35 and 49 to heat thepressure plates to a temperature sufllcient to soften the adhesiveconsistent with the rate of speed at which the work is fed therebetween.The motor i3l is energized to drive the draw rolls I3, I5, 93 and 95 andpulling rolls III and H9 continuously. 4 g

The operator inserts the bag and valve sleeve assemblies illustrated inFig. 2 successively into the inlet throat II of the presser unit in themanner shown in Fig. 3, employing the guide bar I51 as a guide for theouter edge of the valve sleeve. The work is inserted into the throat IIand between pressure plates 39 and 53 a sufflcient distance to introduceit into the nip of the draw rolls I3 and I5, whereupon these draw rolls(and subsequently the draw rolls 93 and 95) function to feed the workforward between the plates at a parent that the plates 33 and 53 must bemain speed equal to the nominal peripheral speed of the draw rolls. Withthe outer edge of the valve sleeve in engagement with guide bar I51,registration of the stripe II of adhesive between the pressure plates isassured. As the work is fed between the pressure plates, the adhesive issoftened by heat and the plates press the walls of the bag and the valvesleeve firmly together to efiect adhesive ailixing thereof.

As the forward edge of the work leaves the presser unit, it is caught inthe nip of pulling rolls Ill and H9 and the work is pulled through thepresser unit at substantially higher speed and delivered from theapparatus to a station. where the subsequent operation of tucking in thecorner of the bag is performed. During pulling of the work by pullingrolls III and H9, draw rolls I3, I5, 93 and 95 are driven by the work inthe forward direction at a greater speed than that nominally impartedthereto by their respective drive shafts. During this phase of theoperation, the draw rolls overrun their shafts, this being permitted bythe pawl-and-ratchet overrunning clutches.

The feature of pulling the work through the presser unit by means of thehigh-speed pulling rolls is of considerable importance inasmuch as itreduces to a minimum the time required to feed the work through theapparatus. Note that once the corner of the bag having the valve sleevetherein has been fed through the presser unit, there remains theconsiderable length X of the work to be fed although no heating andpressing operation needs to be performed thereon. Pulling rolls III and[I9 function to pull this length of the. work rapidly through theapparatus after the corner has passed through the pressure plates 39 and53, and thus the work is delivered away from the apparatus as rapidly aspossible and its output is greatly increased, particularly on wide bags.It will also be noted that it is important to feed that portion of thework including the stripe II of adhesive between the pressure plates ata rate of speed consistent with the temperature of the plates to enablesuflicient softening of the adhesive to effect adhesion of the valvesleeve and bag. The relatively low speed drive of the draw rolls toaccomplish this is effected by the speed-reducing drive I for the drawrolls.

Thus, the operator may rapidly feed one bag and valve sleeve assemblyafter the other through the apparatus, inasmuch as each assembly is fedthrough the apparatus in minimum time. The valve sleeves are effectivelysecured to the bags in the course of their passage between the pressureplates 39 and 53' due to the heating and softening of the thermoplasticadhesive II by the presser unit and the application of pressure to thework. It will be noted that the work is gripped between the knurledflange portions 39 and 9| of 'draw rolls I3 and I5 and between theknurled flange portions I01 and I99 of draw rolls 93 and 95 in itspassage through the apparatus. This permits the portion of the workbetween the flange portions of the draw rolls to pass between thepressure plates 39 and 53, and be drawn evenly therethrough.

It will be understood that the heaters 35 and 49 are preferably underthe control of a suitable thermostatic control device responsive toplate temperature so as to maintain plates 39 and 53 substantially atthe temperature required to soften the adhesive for the rate of speed atwhich the work is fed between the plates. It will. be ap- 7 tained athigher temperatures for higher speeds of the draw rolls in order tosoften the adhesive in the course of the passage of the work between theplates.

While the apparatus of this invention has been particularly describedherein with reference to its use for securing valve sleeves to bags, itwill be understood that it is readily adaptable for use for securingother sheet materials by means of thermoplastic adhesive over a limitedportion of the area thereof.

Cross reference under Rule 43 is made to applicant's divisionalapplication entitled Method of adhesively uniting sheet materials,Serial No. 53,717, filed October 9, 1948.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of cooperatingspool-shaped draw rolls having axially spaced flange portions adapted togrip and feed work, a pair of relatively movable heated pressure platesbiased into pressure engagement, said plates being disposed between saidflange portions with the plane of engagement of the plates substantiallycoincidental with the pass plane of said rolls.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of cooperatingspool-shaped draw rolls having axially spaced flange portions adapted togrip and feed work, a pair of relatively movable heated pressure platesbiased into pressure engagement, said plates being disposed between saidflangeportions with the plane of engagement of the plates substantiallycoincidental with the pass plane of said rolls, said draw rolls beingrelatively transversely movable and being biased into pressureengagement.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of cooperatingspool-shaped draw rolls having axially spaced flange portions adapted togrip and feed work, a pair of relatively movable heated I pressureplates biased into pressure engagement, said plates being disposedbetween said flange portions with the plane of engagement of the platessubstantially coincidental with the pass plane of said rolls, means fordriving said draw rolls at a predetermined speed, overrunning clutchmechanism in said drive means permitting said rolls to run faster thanthe drive means, a drive, and a work puller adapted to grip and feedforward work issuing from said pressure plates at a speed higher thansaid predetermined speed.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of cooperatingspool-shaped draw rolls having axially spaced flange portions adapted togrip and feed work, a pair of relatively movable heated 8 a speed higherthan said predetermined speed.

' said work puller comprising pulling rolls adapted to pull work throughsaid pressure plates at said higher speed.

5. Apparatus for adhesively securing valve sleeves in bags comprising atleast one set of cooperating spool-shaped draw rolls having axiallyspaced flange portions adapted to grip and feed a bag and sleeveassembled with thermoplastic adhesive therebetween, a pair of relativelymovable pressure plates biased into pressure engagement, said platesbeing disposed between said flange portions with the plane of engagementof the plates substantially coincidental with the pass plane of saidrolls, heaters for heating said plates to a temperature suflicient tosoften said adhesive in the course of its passage between said plates,means for driving said draw rolls at a predetermined speed, overrunningclutch mechanism in said drive means permitting said rolls to run fasterthan the drive means, and pulling rolls adapted to grip a bag and sleeveassembly issuing from said pressure plates to pull said assembly throughsaid plates at a speed higher than said predetermined speed.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a heated presser unit forapplying heat and pressure to an assembly of sheet materials having athermoplastic adhesive therebetween over a limited portion thereof, afirst sheet-feeding device positioned to feed said portion of theassembly through the presser unit, means for driving said device at sucha rate of speed as to permit the adhesive to soften and unite saidmaterials over said portion under heat and pressure, overrunning clutchmechanism included in said drive means permitting said device to runfaster than the drive means, and a second sheet-feeding device locatedto engage said portion after it issues from the presser unit and drivenat a substantially higher rate of speed than the first sheet-feedingdevice to pull the remainder of the assembly through the presser unit atthe higher rate of speed and thereby rapidly to clear the presser unitso that it may receive another assembly.

7. In apparatus as set forth in claim 6, the

presser unit comprising a pair of relatively movable heated pressureplates biased into pressure engagement. I g

8. In apparatus of the class described, a heated presser unit forapplying heat and pressure to an assembly of sheet materials having athermoplastic adhesive therebetween over a limited portion thereof, afirst set of feed rolls positioned to pressure plates biased intopressure engagement,

said plates being disposed between said flange feed said portion of theassembly through the presser unit, means for driving said rolls at sucha rate of speed as to permit the adhesive to soften and unite saidmaterials over said portion under heat and pressure, overrunning clutchmechanism included in said drive means permitting said rolls to runfaster than the drive means, and a second set of feed rolls located toengage said portion after it issues from the presser unit and driven ata substantially higher rate of speed than the first set of rolls to pullthe remainder of the assembly through the presser unit at the higherrate of speed and thereby rapidly to clear the presser unit so that itmay receive another assembly.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a heated presser unit forapplying heat and pressure to an assembly of sheet materials having athermoplastic adhesive therebetween over a limited portion thereof, aset of draw rolls comprising a pair of relatively movable'rolls biasedinto pressure engagement positioned to feed said portion of the assemblythrough the presser unit, means for driving said device at such a rateof speed as to permit the adhesive to soften and unite said materialsover said portion under heat and pressure, overruning clutch mechanismincluded in said drive means permitting said draw rolls to run fasterthan the drive means, and a set of pulling rolls comprising a pair ofrelatively movable rolls biased into pressure engagement and located togrip said portion after it issues from the presser unit and driven at asubstantially higher rate of speed than the draw rolls to pull theremainder of the assembly through the presser unit at a higher rate ofspeed and thereby rapidly to clear the presser unit so that it mayreceive another assembly.

10. In apparatus of the class described a heated presser unit comprisinga pair of relatively movable heated pressure plates biased into pressureengagement for applying heat and pressure to an assembly of sheetmaterials having a thermoplastic adhesive therebetween over a limitedportion thereof, a first set of draw rolls positioned to feed saidportion of the assembly through the presser unit, means for driving saidrolls at such a rate of speed as to permit the adhesive to soften andunite said materials over said portion under heat and pressure,overrunning clutch mechanism included in said drive means permittingsaid rolls to rim faster than the drive means, and a set of pullingrolls located to grip said portion after it issues from the presser unitand driven at a substantially higher rate of speed than the draw rollsto pull the remainder of the assembly through the presser unit at thehigher rate of speed and thereby rapidly to clear the presser unit sothat it may receive another assembly.

NORMAN E. WEEKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,261,055 'Pfchl Apr. 2, 19181,297,643 Boyer Mar. 18, 1919 1,755,926 Leguillon et a1. Apr. 122, 19302,093,640 Millenaar Sept. 21, 1937 2,126,908 Moore Aug. 16, 19382,162,230 Salfisberg June 13, 1939 2,303,087 Neller Nov. 24, 19422,335,190 Minich Nov. 23, 1943 2,383,849 Davies Aug. 28, 1945 2,392,695Rohdin Jan. 8, 1946 2,410,834 Messmer Nov. 12, 1946

